Left Photo

Middle Photo

Right Photo

Monday, December 21, 2015

Quick Cardio Blast & Why I Gave Up the Gym

Time is valuable and time is what most of us busy moms lack. You don't have to be a mom to lack time! Particularly at the holidays, we just don't have the ability to get to the gym for an hour sweat sesh and quite honestly, who wants to do that anyway?!

So I put together some of my favorite moves that combine a lower body workout for maximum sweat (big muscles = big burns) and cardio. If you do a 5 minute warm-up before and follow this with a 5 minute cool down, this will be a quick and effective workout for you.

If you like these workouts you can see more on my YouTube channel here or by following me on Facebook here.

I love being able to get my workout in at home. Years ago I was a self-proclaimed gym rat, but these days I'm getting the results I want within a reasonable time frame from the comfort of my home. I'm not going to lie - when I first considered at home workouts, I was extremely hesitant and felt that it wouldn't work for me. But, I was at a point as a new mom where I couldn't find the time nor did I want to make the time to get to the gym.

So I jumped in head first and honestly - best decision ever in regards to my health and fitness.

Here's why...

No waiting.
I hated waiting for a treadmill to open up at the gym. It never failed; I would get there and find something to do for 20 minutes before on became available.

My own sweat.
It grosses me out anytime I see someone in full-on workout mode sweating all over the machines and they get up to go to the next one without wiping it down. Yuck! I always sprayed everything and wiped it down before and after I used it because you just can't expect people to do it.

Time.
This is the biggest and baddest reason to give up the gym in my opinion. I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to the gym and honestly, driving to and from it would impede on my workout time. I also can't fathom giving up an hour of time with my son each evening because I don't have many hours with him while he's awake in the first place.

Also, the hours at the gym aren't exactly user friendly. Most workouts and gyms don't start until 6 a.m. For me, that wouldn't be enough time to get in a workout and get ready to head to work for 7:25 each morning.

My living room is my gym.
I need very little gym equipment therefore my living room can be my gym. This means, I can literally roll out of bed and into my cross trainers and get my workout started in 5 minutes time.